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Results in Class
www.sde.state.ok.us • Help keep our schools safe • 1-877-SAFE-CALL ext. OKI • 1-877-723-3225 ext. 651
OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION • VOLUME 39 • NUMBER 4 • SUMMER 2010
■ PAGE 2 Professional Development from SDE
■ PAGE 3 Other Workshops, Conferences and Opportunities
II PAGE 4 More Professional Development, Calendar
Results 2010
Sandy Garrett
State Superintendent
I begin this summer message saddened by
the fact that we are hearing of more and more
teaching contracts not being renewed because of
Oklahoma's dismal state budget situation.
We know that public school funding for next
year likely will be 9 percent less than the bottom-
line of state appropriations this time last year.
The reduction in state funding through the State
Aid formula and in the line-item appropriations
for specific programs is very difficult on everyone.
[See related story, page 4.]
School leaders are making some of their
toughest decisions ever in order to spare as many
teachers as possible from layoffs. Fiscal Years
2002 and 2003 were very difficult, totaling $263
million in revenue shortfalls, but I expect that
between the current and next budget years, total
state funding to public schools will be reduced
that much again.
We will analyze the details, in due course
(after budget bills are signed into law), as to what
each school's state allocations for next budget
year are and I will send information to school
superintendents, then share with other administrators
at "Leadership 2010" in Tulsa on Thursday-Friday,
July 22-23.
We will update teachers this fall in Results:
In Class, through our content-area listservs, and
on our Web site. Clearly, what Oklahoma needs
most of all is an intense focus on keeping great
teachers in Oklahoma classrooms. According to
Ed Week's national rankings, we have the 9th
best teachers in America!
We have great teachers partially because our
teacher certification has been based on competencies
for more than 20 years, and because of our efforts
to provide high-quality professional development
year round.
This summer and early fall, we have some
high-quality free or low-cost professional
development— funded by various federal programs
and from economic stimulus monies — to offer
all teachers and other school leaders.
Details are in this issue of Results in Class and
available online at <www.sde.state.ok.us>.
Sending every good wish for a great summer.
God bless!
"ABC123 Challenge" issued
as part of Alternative Education
summer, fall offerings
The State Department of Education's Alternative
Education office has a multitude of offerings this
summer for schools: a new OK Graduation: DO IT
effort, along with videoconferences, workshops and
an annual institute.
For starters, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett
has issued the "ABC123 Challenge" to all Oklahoma
public schools in an effort to reduce absenteeism,
improve behavior and increase graduation rates. This
is a voluntary program for elementary and secondary
schools for the 2010-11 school year.
Participants will learn to recognize early warning
signs and deploy targeted interventions that can help
prevent students from dropping out of school. This
challenge is part of the OK Graduation: DO IT
Campaign that was created to reduce the dropout rate
and increase high school graduation rates in our state.
Registration opened on Saturday, May 1, and is
available online at the State Department of Education's
Web site at <www.sde.state.ok.us>. Registration will
be available until Friday, October 1.
Participants will create a Dropout Intervention
Team (DO IT) and identify 10-25 students that exhibit
early warning signs of poor attendance, disruptive
behavior and/or course credit deficiencies. The team
will craft an individualized Dropout Intervention Plan
for each identified student and implement research-
based strategies to reduce school disengagement.
Participating schools will also track progress in
attendance, behavior, and course performance data for
the selected students throughout the 2010-2011 school
year. The State Department of Education (SDE) will
have videoconference trainings to assist schools with
each step of the challenge. The SDE hopes to have the
videoconferences posted on the Web site for those
schools that join at a later date.
Schools will report progress on Wednesday, June 1,
2011. The schools that demonstrate a consistent
commitment to this Challenge will be recognized in
the summer of 2011.
I
Oklahoma State
Department of Education's
ABC123
challenge bo schools
Friday, June 18 - Videoconference Training
Thursday-Friday, July 22-23 -
Registration Drive at "Leadership 2010"
Friday, September 17 -Videoconference Training
Friday, October 1 - Registration Concludes
Friday, October 15 -Videoconference Training
Friday, January 14,2011 -Videoconference Training
Friday, May 6,2011 -VideoconferenceTraining
Wednesday, June 1,2011 - Progress Reports Due
Summer 2011 - Recognition of School
Near the end of this summer, the 13th Annual
Summer Institute for Alternative Education, "Essentials,"
will be held at the Meridian Convention Center, in
Oklahoma City on Monday, August 2, through Tuesday,
August 3. Preconference workshops are scheduled for
August 2, and concurrent sessions on the second day
for teachers, counselors, and administrators focus on
successful strategies for working with at-risk youth.
Registration forms are available on the SDE Web site
<www.sde.state.ok.us>, under "Conferences." The pre-
registration deadline is Friday, July 16. The cost is $35
for one day or $65 for both days. Lunch and refreshments
will be provided, and there is an exhibit area on Tuesday,
August 3 only.
For more information, contact: Laura Buxton,
Office of Innovation, Support and Alternative Education,
State Department of Education, at (405) 522-0276.
Governor signs law for new teacher evaluation
system, other bills of interest noted
Governor Brad Henry signed Senate Bill 2033,
by Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee and
Speaker of the House Chris Benge, on May 28. The
governor says this bill will strengthen Oklahoma
schools and bolster Oklahoma's application in the
federal Race to the Top grant competition.
Reforms approved in this legislation include optional
teacher incentive pay for districts; implementation of
a new Oklahoma teacher evaluation system including
student achievement factors; establishment of an
Oklahoma "Race to the Top" Commission addressing
See "Governor," page 4

This Oklahoma state government publication is provided for educational purposes under U.S. copyright law. Other usage requires permission of copyright holders.

Full text

Results in Class
www.sde.state.ok.us • Help keep our schools safe • 1-877-SAFE-CALL ext. OKI • 1-877-723-3225 ext. 651
OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION • VOLUME 39 • NUMBER 4 • SUMMER 2010
■ PAGE 2 Professional Development from SDE
■ PAGE 3 Other Workshops, Conferences and Opportunities
II PAGE 4 More Professional Development, Calendar
Results 2010
Sandy Garrett
State Superintendent
I begin this summer message saddened by
the fact that we are hearing of more and more
teaching contracts not being renewed because of
Oklahoma's dismal state budget situation.
We know that public school funding for next
year likely will be 9 percent less than the bottom-
line of state appropriations this time last year.
The reduction in state funding through the State
Aid formula and in the line-item appropriations
for specific programs is very difficult on everyone.
[See related story, page 4.]
School leaders are making some of their
toughest decisions ever in order to spare as many
teachers as possible from layoffs. Fiscal Years
2002 and 2003 were very difficult, totaling $263
million in revenue shortfalls, but I expect that
between the current and next budget years, total
state funding to public schools will be reduced
that much again.
We will analyze the details, in due course
(after budget bills are signed into law), as to what
each school's state allocations for next budget
year are and I will send information to school
superintendents, then share with other administrators
at "Leadership 2010" in Tulsa on Thursday-Friday,
July 22-23.
We will update teachers this fall in Results:
In Class, through our content-area listservs, and
on our Web site. Clearly, what Oklahoma needs
most of all is an intense focus on keeping great
teachers in Oklahoma classrooms. According to
Ed Week's national rankings, we have the 9th
best teachers in America!
We have great teachers partially because our
teacher certification has been based on competencies
for more than 20 years, and because of our efforts
to provide high-quality professional development
year round.
This summer and early fall, we have some
high-quality free or low-cost professional
development— funded by various federal programs
and from economic stimulus monies — to offer
all teachers and other school leaders.
Details are in this issue of Results in Class and
available online at .
Sending every good wish for a great summer.
God bless!
"ABC123 Challenge" issued
as part of Alternative Education
summer, fall offerings
The State Department of Education's Alternative
Education office has a multitude of offerings this
summer for schools: a new OK Graduation: DO IT
effort, along with videoconferences, workshops and
an annual institute.
For starters, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett
has issued the "ABC123 Challenge" to all Oklahoma
public schools in an effort to reduce absenteeism,
improve behavior and increase graduation rates. This
is a voluntary program for elementary and secondary
schools for the 2010-11 school year.
Participants will learn to recognize early warning
signs and deploy targeted interventions that can help
prevent students from dropping out of school. This
challenge is part of the OK Graduation: DO IT
Campaign that was created to reduce the dropout rate
and increase high school graduation rates in our state.
Registration opened on Saturday, May 1, and is
available online at the State Department of Education's
Web site at . Registration will
be available until Friday, October 1.
Participants will create a Dropout Intervention
Team (DO IT) and identify 10-25 students that exhibit
early warning signs of poor attendance, disruptive
behavior and/or course credit deficiencies. The team
will craft an individualized Dropout Intervention Plan
for each identified student and implement research-
based strategies to reduce school disengagement.
Participating schools will also track progress in
attendance, behavior, and course performance data for
the selected students throughout the 2010-2011 school
year. The State Department of Education (SDE) will
have videoconference trainings to assist schools with
each step of the challenge. The SDE hopes to have the
videoconferences posted on the Web site for those
schools that join at a later date.
Schools will report progress on Wednesday, June 1,
2011. The schools that demonstrate a consistent
commitment to this Challenge will be recognized in
the summer of 2011.
I
Oklahoma State
Department of Education's
ABC123
challenge bo schools
Friday, June 18 - Videoconference Training
Thursday-Friday, July 22-23 -
Registration Drive at "Leadership 2010"
Friday, September 17 -Videoconference Training
Friday, October 1 - Registration Concludes
Friday, October 15 -Videoconference Training
Friday, January 14,2011 -Videoconference Training
Friday, May 6,2011 -VideoconferenceTraining
Wednesday, June 1,2011 - Progress Reports Due
Summer 2011 - Recognition of School
Near the end of this summer, the 13th Annual
Summer Institute for Alternative Education, "Essentials,"
will be held at the Meridian Convention Center, in
Oklahoma City on Monday, August 2, through Tuesday,
August 3. Preconference workshops are scheduled for
August 2, and concurrent sessions on the second day
for teachers, counselors, and administrators focus on
successful strategies for working with at-risk youth.
Registration forms are available on the SDE Web site
, under "Conferences." The pre-
registration deadline is Friday, July 16. The cost is $35
for one day or $65 for both days. Lunch and refreshments
will be provided, and there is an exhibit area on Tuesday,
August 3 only.
For more information, contact: Laura Buxton,
Office of Innovation, Support and Alternative Education,
State Department of Education, at (405) 522-0276.
Governor signs law for new teacher evaluation
system, other bills of interest noted
Governor Brad Henry signed Senate Bill 2033,
by Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee and
Speaker of the House Chris Benge, on May 28. The
governor says this bill will strengthen Oklahoma
schools and bolster Oklahoma's application in the
federal Race to the Top grant competition.
Reforms approved in this legislation include optional
teacher incentive pay for districts; implementation of
a new Oklahoma teacher evaluation system including
student achievement factors; establishment of an
Oklahoma "Race to the Top" Commission addressing
See "Governor," page 4